Tree House

It was the day I had been longing for all ages. I immediately got up from the bed, which is situated at the right corner, opposite to it was a window, and I headed to the redwood-coloured chair beside the coffee table at the center of the room. I sat for awhile and looked at the small box placed on the table top as I laid my hand gently on it.

The sunlight slanting through my window touched the wooden floor of my tree house. The light was luminous and magical, filling the room with its warmth. It was a sunny morning and I welcomed the day with a smile on my face. I could see face to face through my window the tiny birds sitting side by side on the twigs, chirping freely and fluttering all around. It gave a pleasantly soothing feeling to my whole being hearing the songbirds singing. The gentle warmth of the sunlight brightened each leaf of the giant sycamore tree as it touched the leaves. I am really overwhelmed with joy to see the new fresh morning. Witnessing the beauty of the glittering dews on the leaves and viewing the clouds in their majestic forms.

I prepared myself in a little while. It was a special day for our family. I took my morning warm bath and get dressed afterward. And climb down from my tree house to see my mom if she’s already awake. She’s already in the kitchen and arranged the food. I never realized that she would prepare variety of scrumptious dishes today. I thought we would have a simple family gathering. She cooked all my favourite dishes.

She invited few guests, who were mostly close to our family. And they came actually, sharing their time to celebrate one of the important happenings in our lives. After all, we considered them really part of our family. So, I met my aunts in the living room. They haven’t changed a bit, they were still the Tita’s I’d known, bubbly and they had too much stories or chicas to tell. I had no ideas of what they were talking right now, so I better got off from them before I involved myself from their unending tittle-tattling. On the other part of the house, I saw my college friends. I know they were waiting for me now, so I went to their place to say hi. And to cope up with their lives now, I hadn’t seen them for almost 2 years, since we graduated. The way I see them right now, I could tell that they were okay and successful with their chosen career. I was glad they came here to visit me.

After awhile, people started to leave our place. I was still waiting for someone very close to my heart, but up to now, he’s not here. I guessed he would not come. So, after meeting all my friends and relatives, I decided to go back to the tree house to relax. I was so tired entertaining them, so I better took a nap for a while. I guessed no one would come now at this time.

I went to our yard and headed to where the giant sycamore stood. I scampered ahead and clambered up in a slanted ladder and ended at a platform surrounded by a four-foot high railing. In front of me stood the wooden door of my tree house, where it nested on the tree’s broad thick branches. I opened the door and immediately went straight to the bed. I laid for a while in my bed and looked blankly at the ceiling. And then, my visions started to get blurry…

I saw myself walking on the street with my friends looking a place to eat. I guessed that was around late afternoon. It was almost dark and the street lamps were already been turned on to light the roadsides. We continued walking until we reached the El Patio Restaurant, and we hurriedly went inside it. As we walked inside the Patio, I was busy talking to one of my friends and never minding the people inside the venue. As I turned around, I was surprised to see Mark inside the El patio. By the way, Mark was my boyfriend. He was with another girl inside our favourite dinning place. And he was embracing her. My friends stood quiet as they witnessed the unfaithfulness of my boy friend. Mark accidentally saw me. I immediately went outside the place, followed by my friends to console me. He stood up and run after me as well. I tried to get a cab but no taxi available during these peak hours. I found it hard to get one. He was already beside me and trying to explain about what I had seen inside the restaurant. I didn’t want to hear to what he would gonna say to me. He held me close to calm me but I tried to let go from him. I did let go from him and run to the other side of the road, the place became was so dark… I could see nothing…

“Knock, knock” a big sound woke me from my deep sleep. I immediately sat on my bed with sweats all over my face. I thought I was having again a bad dream.

“You can come inside, she’s waiting for you!” said my Mom

“Okay Tita, thanks!” replied the guy.

As he opened the door, I hurriedly sat on the chair beside the table. My heart throbbed so fast when I saw Mark standing in front of me. He was bringing a bouquet of peach roses, my favourite. He still looked the same, having those dark brown eyes, that when he smiled, his eyes sparkled. And that lips that was crimson in colour, it bore the sweetest kiss ever. But, he looked so serious. He was in pain. He gazed the entire place and seated to the chair opposite to mine.

“Hi!” he said while taking a seat.

“Hello” I replied back.

He seated himself in front of me. He placed the bouquet on the table. He put his hand on the table and gently touched the small box. He looked at the picture frame next to the small box.

“I’m sorry I don’t know what I’m doing here” he started.

“Tell me then, why did you come back?” I asked.

“It’s been a while, since we have talked.” He continued

“Yeah, you never showed after the incident.” I said

“I tried to come in your house after that, but I know, you and your family don’t want me to see, so I went to States to cool myself down and the issue between us, Heidi”

“You should have called, Mark”

“I don’t have the strength to call and explain to your parents about what happen that time. I knew they were very angry about it.

“Yeah, they were actually. But that was past, they have accepted it already.”

“About the girl you saw, the last time we see each other.”

“I don’t need to know, let’s forget about her!

“You should know about it, it will give me a peace of mind to explain it to you.”

“Stop it please!” I said while placing my hand on the table with pressure. It seemed he didn’t hear me.

He lowered his gaze. Grabbed my picture and held it tight. He was crying I guessed. His voice was trembling. I could feel the pain he was facing right now. I wanted to hold him close to absorb the pain he was experiencing. But I remained still in my place looking at him.

“The girl you saw with me that time was Anne. She came from States during those moments. And I was just trying to show her around the place.” He continued

“I don’t want to listen to it, Mark. Stop it now.” I insisted.

He continued to tell about her. I stood and turned my back on him, lowered my gazed

“I never told you about her because I knew you will not listen to me. So I kept it secret. But, please believe it. There’s nothing going on between us. And there will never be.”

I was stunned hearing those words from him. After witnessing them how intimate they could be that time. Now, he was saying that nothing was going on between them. I didn’t want to believe it but I could feel in his voice the sincerity. My heart was saying to believe to his words but my mind was controlling my entity. I stayed still and stubborn over him.

“She was the girl that my parents settled me to marry. But I had explained to her that I will not marry her because you’re the one I love. That’s why we were there at El Patio. She understood it because she also had boyfriend that time and she loved him so much. We agreed not to continue about the settlement that’s why she hugged me.”
“Please believe me. I don’t need you to forgive me. All I need from you is to believe what I am saying right now. It will give me a peace of mind.”

I looked at him and seated myself on the chair again. He was kneeling, asking for forgiveness now. His head was leaning on the table while his two hands were holding the small box.

I was starting to have sympathy over him. Seeing how painful he was facing right now, it hurt so badly. I couldn’t control the tears to fall from my eyes.

“I never stopped loving you, Heidi!” he said as he settled himself again to his seat.

I was speechless and I just looked at him. I felt as if I was in the Twilight Zone. I started to feel light. The grudge I’m holding on for a long time here in my heart started to melt away, instead, love was filling the space in my heart once again.

“I will never forget that painful day, when we were fighting and you run away from the other side of the road.” He continued.

“Yeah, it was a bad dream. And it keeps on haunting me day by day, actually.” I answered.

“I’m so sorry if you got bumped with the car as you turned to walk away from me. I never thought it will end like that, I should have embraced you tightly so that you didn’t have that accident.” he started to cry again.

“I’t’s okay, Mark. I feel alright now, never better actually.

He got up from the chair. Place the picture frame again on the table beside the small box and put properly the bouquet of flowers on the table. He looked at me for a minute longer, and then he closed his eyes and paused for a while.

“I know it’s too late to continue what we have before. After that incident, a lot of things changed between us. I guess I’ll be marrying Anne. She broke up with his boy friend now. I had no choice but to do the settlement between our parents. Anyway, she liked it as well. I’m so sorry.” he said in a low trembling voice. He was still not recovering from his grief.

“Yeah, it’s too late for us. I have my own life now and you should also move on, Mark. I know Anne will be a better wife on you”

I had accepted our fate. And it felt good to forgive him. I felt free at last from the painful past. I guessed I’m just waiting for him to show up, talked to me and asked for my forgiveness. My soul was rejuvenated again.

“I know in my heart you have forgiven me. I can have the peace of mind now. Even if I’m gonna marry someone else now, you’re still the one I love… forever… Heidi…”

I stood up and walked toward him. I embraced him as tightly as I could but I just passed through him. He felt a sudden chill and immediately opened his eyes and looked around the place. I knew in my heart he felt my last embrace for it gave him the goose bumps.

“I can now have the peace in my life. Thanks Mark and I will always love you.” I whispered.

He turned himself away from me and walked toward the door. He climbed down the ladder. I went toward the window and looked at him for the last time. Then suddenly, I saw myself suddenly disappearing from the air as the sky above showered me with warmth and peaceful light. I looked up and smiled as the angels escorted me to a place of vast clouds as they sang some holy songs. I was ready to go with them. I guessed it’s my time to let go and moved on to the eternal peace in heaven…


By Bhelat